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HF 45, the “Taxpayers First Bill” that includes repeal of last year’s Smart Planning Act, passed the Iowa House last Wednesday. An amendment to remove the Smart Planning repeal was offered by Representative Charles Isenhart (D-Dubuque) but did not pass. The bill has been transmitted to the State Senate.

Other bills directly or indirectly related to planning that have been introduced include:

SF 11: A bill for an Act delegating to counties the permitting and enforcement powers of the department of natural resources in relation to 2 certain sewage disposal systems and authorizing penalties.

SF25: A bill for an Act relating to open records and public meetings and including effective date provisions.

SF28: A bill for an Act relating to local and regional planning and establishing a state office of planning and geographic information systems within the department of economic development and making appropriations.

The House Appropriations Committee has scheduled a public hearing for HSB 1 the Taxpayers First Act that includes, among MANY other proposals, the language that repeals Smart Planning. The hearing is set for next Tuesday, January 18 from 6:30pm – 8:30pm in the House Chamber. There are a few rules on speaking which are stated in the press release announcing the hearing:

“Speaking time is three minutes per individual for all public hearings (written testimony is encouraged but not required). Persons wishing to speak may sign up at the Legislative Information Office (LIO), Room G16, located in the Iowa State Capitol, or call the LIO at 515-281-5129. If unable to attend, you may e-mail written testimony to the LIO: lioinfo@legis.state.ia.us Please type ‘Testimony’ in the subject line. The speaking order will be five pro, five con, etc. The first 40 persons to sign-up will speak, after that there will be a waiting list if time allows.”

HSB 1 eliminates from state code the ten Smart Planning Principles, the thirteen comprehensive plan elements, and all other references to Smart Planning added to the code. The proposal also rescinds any of the $30 million in infrastructure funds awarded last year through I-Jobs II (discussed here) for communities that have not yet entered into a contract for their funds with the Iowa Finance Authority. The proposal would also close the Rebuild Iowa Office immediately upon passage, rather than on June 30, 2011 which is the scheduled sunset date of the office.

The Iowa House Republican’s “Taxpayers First Act” proposal, released Monday, proposes to essentially rescind last year’s Smart Planning Act. The proposal, found here (the relevant Smart Planning provisions begin on page 25) eliminates from state code the ten Smart Planning Principles, the thirteen comprehensive plan elements, and all other references to Smart Planning added to the code.

The proposal also rescinds any of the $30 million in infrastructure funds awarded last year through I-Jobs II (discussed here) for communities that have not yet entered into a contract for their funds with the Iowa Finance Authority.

The proposal would also close the Rebuild Iowa Office immediately upon passage, rather than wait for the scheduled sunset of the office on June 30, 2011.

At the September 15 meeting of the Iowa Smart Planning Taskforce, a series of draft recommendations (available here) were approved for public review and comment. The draft recommendations are the result of the work of four workgroups – Integration of Smart Planning Principles, Information Sharing and Coordination, Regional Comprehensive Planning, and Local Comprehensive Planning – that were each tasked with addressing one or more of the directives given to the Taskforce by SF 2389:

Integrating the Iowa Smart Planning Principles into state policies and programs.

Determining an effective and efficient coordination and information sharing system to support local and regional planning.

Developing a framework for regional planning.

Suggesting appropriate technical and financial incentives to support local and regional planning.

The full scope of duties given the Taskforce by the legislature can be found here.

Public input sessions to receive feedback on the draft recommendations have been scheduled for the following dates and locations:

October 6 – Webinar broadcast – More information on accessing the webinar will soon be posted on the RIO webpage

October 7 – Boone – City Hall Auditorium, 4:30 – 6:30

At each site a short presentation will be made at 4:30, and repeated at 5:30. Information tables will be set up where attendees can learn the background and rationale for the Taskforce recommendations, and where attendees will be able to provide written and verbal feedback on the recommendations.

This information comes from the Iowa Department of Economic Development and the Rebuild Iowa Office:

Applications for the Iowa Smart Planning: Local Comprehensive Planning Grant Program are now available through the Rebuild Iowa Office and Iowa Department of Economic Development.

Eligible applicants include any of the 85 counties that were presidentially declared disaster areas as a result of the storms of 2008, as well as any city government within those counties. Up to $50,000 per participating governmental entity may be requested. Applicants must provide a one-to-one match. Multi-jurisdictional plans are encouraged.

These grants are intended to support development and adoption of forward-thinking comprehensive plans that will guide long-term recovery efforts and subsequent decisions that reduce existing or future development in flood-risk areas. Application guidelines, as well as the application form, can be found at http://www.rio.iowa.gov/smart_planning/index.html. The deadline to apply is Sept. 30.

The Rebuild Iowa Office is coordinating the program’s application process and the Iowa Department of Economic Development is administering the contracting and reimbursement process.

The program is based on the Iowa Smart Planning Principles and local comprehensive planning guidance contained in Senate File 2389, which was signed into law on April 26. Smart Planning is meant to improve community resiliency following the storms of 2008 in ways that increase economic opportunity, protect environmental resources, and improve quality of life.

The $1 million program is funded through Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds provided to Iowa from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in response to the catastrophic storms and floods of 2008.

I have started a Smart Planning Resources page on this blog (link is just above) to keep readers informed of the ongoing work of the Smart Planning Taskforce, and to assemble resources that may prove useful as Iowa cities and counties consider moving forward with smart planning. It will be updated regularly as materials are gathered, so check in on it often.